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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Sea Dogs Notebook

TOMORROW

The Sea Dogs are back in action tomorrow night against
the PEI Rocket. Game time is 7pm at Harbour Station.

Saint John will look to end a six-game losing skid while PEI has won three straight. Both teams have something to play for down the stretch – the Sea Dogs are trying to get into the playoffs and the
Rocket are trying to get home-ice advantage in the first-round.

The Guardian reports today that forward Yan-Pavel
Laplante is expected to make his season debut tomorrow. He has missed all
season with a shoulder injury. He had 21 points in 57 games last year.

The Sea Dogs are asking fans to bring donations of
nutritious cereal (pictured) or breakfast bars to tomorrow’s game. All cereal collected
will go to the breakfast programs at seven Community/PALS Schools in the city
of Saint John. The only request is that the cereals be healthy and nutritious.

Saint John is 5-1 in overtime games and 3-0 in shootouts
for a .889 winning percentage. Their only extra time loss came last Saturday in
Shawinigan when the team lost in overtime.

The Barrie Colts are the second best team with a .833
winning percentage.

WECKWORTH

Sea Dogs defenseman David Weckworth has been named the
Sea Dogs’ student of the month for January. Weckworth is a student at UNBSJ.

“The scholastic players UL Mutual demonstrate each and
every month their commitment towards education. At UL Mutual, we encourage
their good work”, said UL Mutual President and CEO, Jacques Desbiens, in a league release.

This initiative’s goal, which was developed by the QMJHL
and its member clubs, is to recognize student athletes’ performances both on
the ice and at school. The players are selected for their school results, their
implication, the school-hockey conciliation, their team spirit and their on-ice
performances.

HADE

The Sherbrooke Phoenix announced via their website on Tuesday that former Sea Dog Benjamin Hade has left the team. The defenseman was
traded to Sherbrooke in exchange for a 2014 fourth-round pick during the
holiday trading period.

Hade had a goal in eight games with Sherbrooke. He had an
assist in 12 games with Saint John this season prior to being dealt.

Hade was a fourth-round pick of Saint John in the 2010
QMJHL Entry Draft.

HUBERDEAU

Jonathan Huberdeau scored his third goal of the season
last night in Winnipeg.

Huberdeau now has three goals and three assists in nine
games with the Florida Panthers.

COYLE

Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo liked what he saw from
Charlie Coyle in his NHL debut.

He apparently impressed the Wild enough to earn a
promotion. He skated on the team’s top line with Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu
today at practice, replacing Dany Heatley.

“Yeo said these were just lines for practices and no
guarantees for Thursday's game against Vancouver, but I certainly suspect that
will stick for the game,” writes Michael Russo.

MACAULAY

Metro Halifax had an article on former Sea Dog and
current Halifax Moosehead Stephen MacAulay today. MacAulay said he learned a
lot from Mike Thomas.

“He didn’t have the most skill in the world,” said
MacAulay of Thomas. “But he gave an honest effort every night. He would do anything for
his teammates, block shots, make big hits, and fight when he had to.

“I’ve always tried to be a little like that, a selfless
teammate.”

The 20-year old has six goals and six assists in 12 games
with the Moose.

“With Simon Despres, you have to go through those
learning experiences — and we've seen this with Kris and Alex Goligoski, other
good defensemen we've had — he is still learning. He still needs some
consistency to his game, and he's still in that process,” said head coach Dan
Bylsma.

Despres has two goals, two assists, 14 penalty minutes
and a plus-4 rating in eight games with the Pens this season.

SAUVE

The good old Kalamazoo Gazette had an article on former
Sea Dogs defenseman Yann Sauve earlier this week. Sauve is on a rehab stint
with the East Coast Hockey League’s K-Wings.

“He should play in every situation for us,” K-Wings coach
Nick Bootland said. “He was injured in Chicago and was assigned to us to gain confidence.
He should be a minute muncher.

“When he has the puck on his stick, with his size
(6-foot-3, 215 pounds), skating and stature, you can see that he doesn’t belong
here.”

Sauve had an assist in 12 games with the AHL’s Chicago
Wolves. In five games with Kalamazoo he has two goals.